(The opinions and views expressed in the commentaries and letters to the Editor of The Somerville Times belong solely to the authors and do not reflect the views or opinions of The Somerville Times, its staff or publishers)

On the September 3 primary ballot, Democrats will nominate their candidates for Congress and State offices including the contested State House race in the 27th Middlesex District in Somerville between incumbent Erika Uyterhoeven and challenger Kathleen Hornby. Last week, the elected members of the Somerville Democratic City Committee “SDCC” voted overwhelmingly to endorse incumbents Sen. Warren, Rep. Pressley, state Sen. Jehlen, and state Reps. Connolly and Barber along with first-time candidate for state rep. Kathleen Hornby. Erika Uyterhoeven’s subsequent public comments calling duly elected members of the SDCC “out of step with the clear progressive values of this district” is yet another example of Erika Uyterhoeven’s tactics that are hurting the progressive movement in Somerville and beyond.

Somerville is one of the most progressive communities in our country placing our politics to the le] of the Democratic Party in Massachusetts and nationwide. The only way for Somerville’s elected officials to pass progressive legislation into law is by building coalitions and doing the hard, oftentimes uncelebrated, work of amending legislation, passing bills, and securing much-needed funding for our local communities. Erika Uyterhoeven’s lackluster record of achievement in the State House falls well short of Somerville’s aspirations for legislative progress including ZERO bills passed in four years, ZERO amendments submitted for FY2025, and less than $100K in district appropriations over her four years in office (a mere fraction of Erika’s State House salary).

By any standard, Erika underperforms nearly every other elected Democratic representative in Somerville and statewide, and this weighed heavily on the minds of the elected members of the SDCC who voted for much needed change, endorsing Kathleen Hornby for State Rep instead. It is simply not enough to use progressive slogans and support progressive activism which both Erika and Kathleen clearly do, we need State representatives who will do the hard work to pass progressive ideals into law. Kathleen Hornby will do the hard policy work and has a track record of success as a State House employee, helping to secure hundreds of thousands of dollars in aid annually in FY2022-FY2024 for programs serving Somerville including Food for Free.

The elected members of the SDCC volunteer their time, without pay, to support Democrats and progressive causes. Only elected months ago on the March presidential primary ballot, the current SDCC is more diverse than ever and has already mobilized hundreds of volunteers to elect Kamala Harris our next President. Our current SDCC puts the progressive values of Somerville into action. Erika’s attack on the SDCC’s progressive credentials is tone-deaf at best, but unfortunately, it’s a familiar tactic Erika has employed against her State House colleagues and Party leaders. Erika Uyterhoeven’s alienation of Democratic constituencies and lackluster legislative record show she’s just not motivated to do the hard work of building coalitions and passing legislation: Erika Uyterhoeven’s approach to progressivism is not working.

Somerville’s hopes for legislative progress are on the September 3 ballot: it’s time for much-needed change by electing Kathleen Hornby for State Rep.

Respectfully Submitted,

Justin Klekota
Somerville, MA